Elections and Voting Behavior

1. Elections and Voting Behavior Chapter 10

2. Three Types of Elections • Primary Elections- voters select party nominees • General Elections- the contest between the nominees of the different parties • Specific policy elections- voters engage in making or ratifying the legislation

3. Specific policy elections • Specific policy elections are not included in the Constitution • Many U.S. states vote on their policies • Referendum- ratifying a policy proposed by the state legislature • Initiative petition- citizens proposing legislation (usually by gaining signatures on a proposed law equal to 1/10 of number of voters in previous election) • Recall

4. 1800: The First Electoral Transition of Power • No primaries, no nominating conventions, no candidate speeches, and no entourage of reporters • State legislatures chose the members of the electoral college • State and local organizations promoted their causes • Presidents were excluded from campaigns- seen as undignified for office • Newspapers didn’t care about dignity or honesty • Focus was on state legislatures, which chose electors • Each elector cast two votes, and Jefferson tied with Aaron Burr • House decided election • Led to amendment calling for running mates (12th)

5. 1896: A Bitter Fight over Economic Issues • National nominating conventions were well established • Republicans issue: • Candidate: Congressman William McKinley • Support for gold standards and tariffs (tax on imports) • Campaigned from his front porch • Democrats issue: • Candidate: William Jennings Bryan • Supported the coinage of silver instead of gold • Waged first national campaign

6. 2000: Election • Bush vs. Al Gore (Dem.) • Presidency decided by Florida • Florida law mandated recount because a margin of less than 1000 • Florida Supreme court ruled in favor of Gore • (Bush vs. Gore) U.S. Supreme Court overruled decision. • BUSH WINS • An Author on Bush v. Gore (5:00): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98Qx1FF8LkE&feature=related

7. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice • Deciding Whether to Vote • Legitimacy- fair and free method of selecting political leaders • Political Efficacy: The belief that one’s political participation really matters. • Civic Duty: The belief that in order to support democratic government, a citizen should always vote.

8. Registering to Vote • In 1888, West Virginia had 159,000 votes but only 147,000 eligible voters • States adopted voter registration to prevent like instances (North Dakota has no registration) • Biggest indicator of voting is voter registration • Motor Voter Act 1993

9. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice • Who Votes? • Education: More education = more likely to vote. Most important factor. • Age: Older = more likely to go vote. • Race: Caucasian = more likely to go vote. BUT, other ethnicities are higher with comparable education. • Gender: Female = more likely to go vote.

10. Whether to Vote: A Citizen’s First Choice • Who Votes? (continued) • Marital Status: Married = more likely to go vote. • Mobility: Don’t move = more likely to go vote. • Union Membership: Union member = more likely to go vote. • Traits are cumulative- possessing several adds up.

11. Sample Question: (use 3,2,1 scale) • Which of these would be most likely to vote? • A. a middle-aged professor at a private university • B. a young southerner without a high school diploma • C. a young southern high school teacher • D. a 63-year-old government worker with a doctorate • E. a well-educated senior citizen who used to work for a big corporation • Answer: D

12. The Last Battle: The Electoral College • Electoral College actually elects the President- founders wanted him chosen by the elite of the country • States choose the electors • Winner-Take-All system gives bigger emphasis to more populated states

13. The Last Battle: The Electoral College • How it works today: • Each state has as many votes as it does Representatives and Senators. • Winner of popular vote typically gets ALL the Electoral College votes. • Electors meet in December, votes are reported by the vice president in January. • If no candidate gets 270 votes (a majority), the House of Representatives votes for president, with each state getting ONE vote.